Port of Call Limassol, Cyprus

The cruise port at Limassol, Cyprus. Cruise ships dock at the new port facility, 3 km west from Limassol city center. There is normally a shuttle bus service between the two.

Limassol Shore Excursions

Limassol Start your short walk around Limassol at Molos, a delightful seafront Promenade, which features a number of imaginative sculptures. Next tour Limassol Medieval Castle, reputedly the setting in 1191 for Richard the Lionhearts’ wedding to Berengaria of Navarre, making her Queen of England. For lunch stop at one of the welcoming eateries housed in a characterful converted Carob Mill. (There’s also a Carob Mill museum). Afterwards visit the attractive shops along Agiou Andreou Street, which sell a wide variety of local goods and souvenirs.

Ladies Mile Beach Ladies Mile Beach is the nearest beach to Limassol, and is very popular at weekends during summer. The long pebble/sand beach is sandwiched between the new port and a military base, but even so is perfect for swimming and sunbathing on a hot sunny day. But beware that it’s not easy to find any shade, so either bring your own sun umbrella, or lots of sunscreen. The beach is an easy 1 mile walk south from the cruise terminal.

Kolossi Castle If you’re a history buff, you’ll enjoy a visit to Kolossi Castle, which once acted as strategic headquarters for the famous Knights Templars. Next to the castle stands the ruins of a medieval sugar factor, which would have been a valuable asset in the middle ages. Kolossi Castle is a short (5mile/8km) taxi ride from the cruise port.

KourionA popular shore excursion is Kourion, the island's most impressive archaeological site. Excavations have unearthed a large Agora, an early Christian basilica and a magnificent Greco-Roman amphitheatre. The excursion normally continues with a visit to the nearby Sanctuary and Temple of Apollo - in Roman times this was a premier religious center where Apollo was worshipped as Hylates, god of the woodlands. Kourion is about 10 miles (16km) west of Limassol.

PaphosAn alternative shore excursion is the hour long coach trip to the seaside town of Paphos, a UNESCO world heritage site. See Aphrodite’s Rock reputed to be the birthplace of the Greek goddess of love, the Roman-era House of Dionisios with its beautiful mosaics, the 12th century Egkleistra famous as the highly decorated mountain retreat of the hermit Neofytos, and the Tomb of the Kings, a 3rd century necropolis. Paphos is situated 30 miles (48km) west of Limassol.